Troops team up to help QA Helpline. Help a neighbor — buy a tree!

Boy Scout Troops 70 & 72 on Queen Anne Hill have teamed up this year to assist Queen Anne Helpline sell Christmas trees and use their knot tying skills to secure them to customers’ cars. As in years past, Safeway is generously donating a portion of their parking lot during this busy shopping season. The tree lot is set up annually by Scouts and parents on the Friday after Thanksgiving. Trees are delivered to the lot in the afternoon. The trees are then unloaded and moved to the tree racks. Queen Anne Helpline volunteers staff the lot during the day Monday through Friday and the Scouts staff the lot in the evenings and on Saturday and Sunday.

Come early for the LARGEST selection of fresh trees

The tree lot stocks fresh Noble, Grand Fir, Douglas Fir and Fraser trees. There are typically more Noble trees and a limited number of Fraser trees. Noble trees are generally open with more space between the branches. Grand Fir trees are very dense with no space between the branches and have flat needles that extend from each branch in a flat pattern. Douglas Fir trees are very dense with no space between the branches and have fine needles that form a circle around each branch. Fraser trees are considered a premium tree and have a bluish color. The trees are cut in Washington State and shipped directly to the Queen Anne Helpline Tree Lot. There will be additional trees delivered on Friday, December 4th and Thursday, December 10th. Mark those days on your calendar if you are a fresh tree fanatic!

Scouts set up, tear down and clean up in addition to selling trees

Scouts and volunteers serve customers, greet and direct them to the appropriate tree type and size, pulling the trees out of the tree rack and turn them around slowly so they can look at all of the tree. After the person has selected their tree, Scouts carry it to the front of the tree lot and lay it at the tree trimming stand. Scouts then make sure the tree racks are full of trees, moving trees from the inventory at the back of the lot or pull the trees out from between the racks and cut the strings to display the trees. If there are no people to assist, Scouts clean up the lot by sweeping the aisles.

Serving popcorn and hot apple cider to the customers is part of the QA Helpline tradition. Many of the people that buy Christmas trees at the QA Helpline Tree Lot have been returning to the lot for many years. Their loyalty and dedication to the neighborhood are appreciate.

Fresh trees are delivered regularly

Each tree gets a fresh cut at the bottom of the tree so that it will draw in water and remain fresh longer, and lower branches trimmed at the same time. Most trees will have a color coded tag at the trunk to identify the size and cost of the tree. If there is no tree tag, Scouts use 10′ measuring poles to determine the height. Customers give the tag from the bottom of the tree to the customer to take in to the cashier. The cashiers are volunteers for Queen Anne Helpline. They take credit cards, but if you pay for your tree with cash, then Queen Anne Helpline does not have to pay the credit card processing fee and all the money goes towards funding the Queen Anne Helpline. Wreaths and garland are also for sale.

Of course Scouts cannot accept tips for doing a good deed, but they are happy to accept any donation and give it to the QA Helpline cashier. Working at the tree lot is a great way to start the holiday season and help your Queen Anne neighbors. Please buy a tree to support Queen Anne Helpline this year.